Remember Safety Harness When Hanging Treestands

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s “Home From The Hunt” safety campaign is reminding hunters to be cautious when setting up treestands prior to deer season.

“Every year someone is injured in a treestand-related incident before deer season opens,” said Travis Casper, state hunter education coordinator. “We need hunters to practice treestand safety at all times, not just during hunting season.”

Whether putting up stands or hunting from them, safety harness fall restraint systems are recommended for all hunters.

If you are scouting a location or trimming shooting lanes and putting up your treestand, even on a trial basis, use the same precautions you would during hunting season:

– Use a full body safety harness.
– Maintain three points of contact when climbing.
– Follow manufacturer instructions.
– Have an emergency signal.
– Tell someone where and when you plan to go.

Use a lineman-style belt in addition to a full body harness when first putting a treestand in place. This minimizes the chance of falls and potential injury.

As with any piece of equipment, treestands need inspection before use. Long-term placement, such as leaving your tree stand up from one season to the next, has some inherent problems that outweigh any convenience. Exposure to the elements will damage straps, ropes and attachment cords, and potentially lead to breakage and failure. Also, trees are living, growing things and change over time, affecting stability.

“If you have a tree stand that has been in place for an extended length of time, take it down,” Casper said. “Inspect it. Replace rusted bolts, frayed straps or, if needed, buy a new tree stand. Your life could depend on it.”

In North Carolina, all first-time hunting license buyers must successfully complete a Hunter Education Course, available for free across the state. Go to www.ncwildlife.org to consult the online version of the 2012-13 N.C. Inland Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest or call (919) 707-0031 for more information.